What does "ultimate success" mean to you?

Probably getting enough of a following for my comic that I can profit from it, and therefore have more time to devote to it. That, and just widespread recognition in general, honestly... Printed copies, perhaps even a TV or movie adaptation.

I think if people had fun and got interested in AI/machine learning concepts by reading my comic, it would be very rewarding.

I already worked as an illustrator/graphic designer for a decade so I'm not sure I'd like to make my hobby into a job as well. That sounds as an opposite of relaxing if there were hard deadlines. I also am much more interested to continue what I do right now which is making robots and AI so I hope to stay in this field and keep drawing the comic when I'm just too tired to look at the code.

Ultimate success... a smooth working publishing machine, helping others live their dreams, bringing success to other creators and helping them develop their work, developing a manga industry here in the west....
It used to be to live off of my own manga, but now I have bigger goals that have grown out of it.

@Red22Studios that margin isn't bad, but all depends on what you want/need.
A printer distributor (if you are the self publisher) will take some for print and shipping, which means you don't have to. If you are only doing short runs of small books, it may be preferable to do a print run and keep them under your bed, shipping them out yourself.
If you have lot going out and no time , it helps to have someone else take care of it. Bookstores ask for a 30-55% discount so they can make some money to cover their costs or offer discounts etc. The money is made in bulk sales, large numbers also bring down the print cost.

Short books are hard to move that way. Personally I've found 150 pages is a good minimum for a paperback.
For my own books, 235 pages, about $5 each to print, $13 cover price (manga tank average price). Without the shop discount, I get just less than $5 a copy. But for that I don't have to mess with shipping and storage. They print world wide. If order a case at cost, I make $8 per copy, but I have to lug them around and haggle them in person. I'm ok losing $3 to have it taken care of, so I can draw more and develop more titles to sell.

Hhmmmmm I have to consider that too.

Making a connection with people. If someone understands me a little better after they read an issue of The Un-Iverse, that's all I need.

Getting the story in front of as many eyes as reasonable and having those people enjoy it and become engaged with the content. Eventually success will also mean getting all 10 issues out and moving on to the next series. Maybe developing a fanbase along the way. Monetization as a measure of success is something to keep an eye on, but ultimately to be revenue neutral would be nice.

Ultimate success in any field of endeavour Is to be recognized as having made a significant contribution to that particular discipline. For me, that would be signing off on a franchise deal to a media company (not present Disney) to turn my work into some bigger production - movie, animated or live, TV, comic strip or print media publication. Simply, recognition of my work and some good grunty remuneration. I'd be happy with that. But, in short, there is no "ultimate" success. The more successful one is, it drives one's passion to do better. No artisan can ever reach ultimate success. To do so, would mean the end of one's creativity. My opinion. Cheers all.

Getting as close to breaking even as possible and being able to fund the next issue lol

Ultimate success for me is having more followers! Would love to get more boosts on my page.

I suppose "Ultimate Success" suggests that I can earn enough from the comics to make a living, create toys & cartoons of the comics, and generally have "fans" that actually look forward to each subsequent issue.

Success is most certainly a state of mind.

Would you think me arrogant if I told you I am ultimately successful?

I could tell you of my profound achievements in such a way that you might find boastful - that is if I could resist interjecting all the "buts", "except fors" and "if onlys" I've encountered along the way.

The irony of success is that most folks (myself included) are utterly fascinated with their own failures.

While I'm new to the craft of making comics, I am most certainly not new to the deafening sound of crickets in the wake of my efforts.

Indeed, my ultimate success is my state of mind, my commitment to give-up when I'm dead.
Die tryin' may be my great epitaph after all. So be it.

If I somehow stumble into some other kind of success, I'll let you know (that is, if I'm not too busy being successful to hang around in this dump ! *joking* *joking* just being a wise-guy.
I hope this reply gives you a fuzzy feeling, but I also can't resist being a smart-alec sometimes.

um... yeah.

being able to be allowed to find a standing to promote your work. Im just trying to build the funds to make a manga and I am failing at that

If at least one person gets what im trying to create, thats amazing

@ZoomingDistantBat - You don't necessarily need funding to promote your work. I've been able to grow and gain about 1500 followers here without needing to pay for promotion. Not one penny have I spent. Just like writing or drawing, it's a skillset that can be learned. I've got some articles I've made on what I've learned here, but keep in mind that it's not the end all be all, and I encourage more education on the topic to improve your marketing skillset: https://globalcomix.com/support/education/marketing

@ArtCrumbs yeah I am trying a "slower" approach while commission a little at a time, I'll keep promoting, but it may be a while before I get a full chapter done. I need to update my page. But I do accept tips through Kofi now. And yeah I am not gonna try with campaigns, its for those with the resources.

And I will takes notes from yours and other "slow and steady guides"

Means that at the end of the day your happy what you created an hopeful you have created a world for the reader to escape to.